This one feels inevitable, doesn't it? Apple has one heck of a phone in the iPhone. But that's all it is -- one phone. Android software is being sprayed across so many handsets that eventually one of the handsets will deliver an experience better than the iPhone. When that day comes and Walt Mossberg pens the words "Android has finally delivered a phone that is better than the iPhone," expect steam to come out of Steve Jobs's ears in Cupertino.

Apple's next big move against Google could be dropping Google Maps

In a research note released in late March, Gene Munster wrote that Apple will eventually have its own maps offering. He thinks that surrending maps to Google means giving up location data, one of the key components of a mobile platform. Gene sees Apple acquiring a map data provider like Europa Technologies.

Google could get booted from the iPhone for Bing

There's a lot of
chatter
that Bing could take the default spot on the iPhone as the search engine in Safari. Most analysts we've read don't think this happens this year, if at all. However, if Apple did go with Microsoft over Google, it would be a huge assault on Google's franchise.

Apple could build its own search engine, providing its biggest threat to Google

Munster thinks Apple would be able to protect its data. We're very skeptical about Apple doing this. It just seems like too much work to be worth it. However, if Apple did make its own search engine, it would probably destroy what's left of Apple's relationship with Google.

Apple and Google will start stealing important employees from each other

For a long time Apple and Google were reported to have
a secret non-poaching pact
. Apple wouldn't pluck Google's employees. Google wouldn't go after Apple employees. If that really existed, it's over now. Apple
stole away
RJ Pittman from Google earlier this year. Eventually one of these companies will pluck someone big.

Apple and Google will battle over the TV set

Google is building an Android-based set-top box software with Intel and Sony,
the New York Times reports
. Through this, users will be able to do web stuff and watch television. So, you'll be able to see YouTube videos along side cable, for instance. Apple has its own TV offering, Apple TV, which is just a hobby for the company. Despite this, Piper analyst Gene Munster thinks Apple's next big move should be in the television market. If Apple builds its own TVs or steps up its television efforts, this will be another spot where the two companies butt heads.

There will be a brutal M&A battle, but we don't what it's going to be...

We've ticked off nine battle we can see coming. Obviously, there will be more that we miss. Our best guess is that it happens in the M&A world. Apple already stole Lala away from Google after Google stole AdMob from Apple. We think there's more battles coming, probably related to cloud computing services on some level. Although, now that Apple is an advertising company, the two could fight for something in that arena.